Stepladder



Dec. 20, 1966 R. R. UTLEY 3,292,735

STEPLADDER Filed Aug. 12, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1 m w/z fole.

A 7' TOP/V5 K R. R. UTLEY STEPLADDER Dec. 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1964 //I [/V7a 055,877. 0715) W ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1966 UTLEY 3,292,735

STEPLADDER Filed Aug. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 //VV /W@ 4 0496671. 0716) ,QNE V.

ATTO

United States Patent 3,292,735 STEPLADDER Robert R. Utley, 3320 N. Fair Oaks, Altadena, Calif. Filed Aug. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 389,099 1 Claim. (Cl. 182-17 6) This invention relates to devices for attaining elevated positions, and more particularly, to an adjustable ladder.

The substantial utility of conventional stepladders is undisputed. However, these devices are extremely difiicult to manipulate in places where the ground is not level.

In accordance with the device of the present invention, the above-described and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by providing a stepladder having a pair of step legs and a pair of brace legs. A plate is fixed to the upper ends of the steps legs. Means are then provided which pivotally mount the brace legs to the plate. The brace legs are so mounted that they will rotate about an axis in the plane thereof midway therebetween. The plate is inclined upwardly toward the brace legs when the stepladder is located in a symmetrical horizontal set up position. This means that whenever the brace legs are pivoted, the lower ends thereof will occupy positions of diiferent elevations. Thus, the stepladder of the present invention is adjustable and may be manipulated with considerable facility in places where the ground is not level.

According to a feature of the present invention, the rearward edge of the plate is provided with a rolled edge. A top step is then fixed to the step legs, and the rolled edge participates in the support of the top step.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, a cross brace is provided between the brace legs. In this case, means are connected between the step legs and the cross brace to limit angular movement of both pairs of legs away from each other. However, these connecting means are constructed in a manner such that the brace legs may be pivoted freely about the said axis midway therebetween.

The above-described and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a broken away and exploded perspective view of an adjustable stepladder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of parts connected to the upper end of the stepladder;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of all leg connecting means; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the stepladder taken on the line 4-4 shown in FIG. 1.

In the drawing in FIG. 1, a stepladder 21 is illustrated which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. Stepladder 21 has a pair of step legs 7 and a pair of brace legs 3. Steps 22 are fixed between step legs 7. Cross braces 23 are provided between brace legs 3.

Step legs 7 and brace legs 3 may be conventional. The same is true of steps 22 and cross braces 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plate 1 is provided having a forward flange 24 and side flanges 25. Side flanges 25 have holes 26 therethrough. Bolts project through holes 26 to fix plate 1 to step legs 7. Bolts 10 also fix a pair of angle irons 8 to step leg 7.

Plate 1 has a hole 27 through the center thereof. Plate 1 also has arcuately shaped slots 28 therethrough.

Plate 1 has a scroll shaped rolled edge 29.

Stepladder 21 has a top step 9 shown in FIG. 4. The upper surface of rolled edge 29 may contact top step 9 and support the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, brace legs 3 have an inverted U-shaped yoke 2 bolted therebetween at 31. Yoke 2 has holes 32 and 33 therethrough. Bolts 4 extend through slots 28, hole 27, and holes 32 and 33. Washers 5 surround bolts 4 and nuts 6 are threaded to bolts 4.

Angle irons 8 have holes 34 therethrough. Top step 9 is bolted to angle irons 8. Bolts 8', as shown in FIG. 4, extend through top step 9 and through angle iron holes 34. 1

As shown in FIG. 1, step legs 7 are connected to a cross brace 23 through linkages 11, 12 and 14. A swivel is provided at 16 :between linkage 14 and a cross brace 23. A cross bar 13 is welded to linkage 14 on the forward side of a pivot point 35. Linkages 12 and 13 are pivoted to linkage 14 at 35.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pivot at 35 is provided by an assembly of a bolt 16, a washer 17 and a nut 18.

Swivel 15 includes a ring 36 at the rearward end of linkage 14 and a ring 37 which is fixed to a cross brace 23. Linkages 11 and 12 are provided with forward rings 38 and 39 which are bolted to step legs 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, a yoke 2 is pivoted about a bolt 4. As shown in FIG. 1, and for this reason, brace legs 3 may be turned as' indicated in dotted lines. The lower ends of brace legs 3 may be located in positions of different elevations. As shown in FIG. 4, plate 1 may be inclined at an angle of 15 with respect to the horizontal.

Although only one specific embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated herein, many changes and modifications will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. This single embodiment has been selected for this disclosure for the purpose of illustration only. The present invention should therefore not be limited to the embodiment so selected, the true scope of the invention being defined only in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An adjustable step'ladder comprising: a pair of step legs having a plurality of steps fixed therebetween; a plate fixed to said step legs at their upper ends; a pair of brace legs movably mounted on said plate, said plate being inclined upwardly toward said brace legs when said ladder is in a symmetrical, horizontal set up position, said brace legs being pivotally mounted on said plate to rotate about an axis in the plane thereof midway therebetween; a top step fixed relative to said step legs, said plate having a scroll shaped rearward end to support a rearward portion of said top step; a cross brace fixed to said brace legs at a position intermediate the ends thereof; first and second linkages pivoted from corresponding ones of said step legs; a third linkage; a mounting ring fixed to the center of said cross brace; a ring at the rearward end of said third link-age linked with said mounting ring; means pivoting the rearward ends of said first and second linkages to said third linkage at a predetermined point therealong, said third linkage having a forward portion extending forwardly of said predetermined point; and a cross bar fixed to the forward portion of said third linkage in a position to rest on top of said first and second linkages.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 448,648 3 /1891 Gardner 182l76 1,934,086 11/1933 Page 182-129 2,221,264 1 l/ 1940 Nowick 182176 2,868,426 1/1959 Groves l82176 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,324 11/ 1948 Great Britain.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

